So, WordPress 5.0 has been here for a little while now. Actually we’re now up to version 5.1.1. (man, how time does fly)
One of the most important new features that came with this version is of course, the Gutenberg block editor.
I gotta say, when I first started working with Gutenberg, man, I wasn’t too crazy about it. I was really used to using that simple interface that I have been using for the last 10 years. The new block editor seemed to somewhat complicate things unnecessarily. I didn’t get it.
But that’s how it is with new stuff, right?
There is an adjustment period; the required amount of time that it takes to get used to a new way of doing things. But, I’m happy to say that I’ve made it through all that and now, yes, I’ve fully embraced Gutenberg; I love the new block editor.
Why?
That’s a fair question. I will tell you why.
Now that I’ve had time to acquaint myself with the way this editor works and use it on a more regular basis; what I originally found to be unnecessarily complicated I now see as the simpler, more Zen-like approach to composing and creating new posts and pages.
The editing screen is cleaner, less cluttered. I really do appreciate that. I login and start to create a new post and really all I see, for the most part, is a clean white screen asking me to enter a title for the post.
After I enter the title I can just click below that and start writing my thoughts. After that I can continue to add more paragraphs just by hitting the return key. Or, if I want to add a photograph or any other media I just click the plus (+) symbol and choose the appropriate block for what I need to add.
Then I just keep moving down, adding block by block as I need them.
Cleaner Layout on Mobile
Another thing I like about creating a post this way, I think it keeps the formatting very straight forward. I think by having this block by block method, it keeps us from getting in our own way, creating layouts that might not work so well on mobile. And while I love looking at websites on a 27 inch iMac, how our websites look and function on mobile is much more important. Much.
Okay, what’s the #1 reason that I love the new editor so much…
A few days ago I wrote an article about creating blog posts, generating new content for my website more regularly by using my phone now. At that point I had just started this practice of using my phone to be the primary tool in creating new content.
Now, after about a week of using this method; writing and composing all of my posts via my iPhone, I would really be bummed if we had to go back to using the classic editor.
Using the new block editor, Gutenberg, makes things so much easier to do on mobile. It’s not that the classic editor made things so much harder, it’s just that Gutenberg makes things so much easier.
It’s more practical. I just entered the title of the document and start typing below. Actually no, I rarely do any typing using this method. I just speak into the phone and it does all the typing for me. That makes things so much faster. Then I just keep moving down the page adding a new block as needed.
Formatting is Easier
Formatting the document is much easier with the new blog editor. If I want one line to be a title, I just use the Title block. No more having to select the text and reformat it manually to be a title. It’s the little things.
Productivity
Now that I don’t have to be chained to my computer sitting down in order to create new content, write new posts, I end up creating more content, more consistently. I’m the kind a person, that I don’t like to be stationary; I like to be moving. Now that I’m creating almost all of my new content, my new posts on my phone, I can be walking around getting some exercise and creating content at the same time. Man, that’s really important to me, and that’s why I do love the new Gutenberg block editor so much.
